New Orleans Hornets' roster may have big changes for next season

DENVER -- Without a guarantee from management that he is in their plans for next season, Hornets starting center Tyson Chandler is approaching the playoffs like it might be his final run with All-Stars Chris Paul and David West.

BY MICHAEL DEMOCKER, THE TIMES-PICAYUNECenter Tyson Chandler knows he may be playing his last games with the New Orleans Hornets, who tried to trade him during the regular season.

Regardless how the Hornets fare against the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs, the consensus among the players is that changes are forthcoming this summer. The only uncertainty is the extent of management's desire for a makeover.

There is a possibility a core player such as Chandler could be traded to keep the payroll from going above the luxury-tax threshold.

Had he not failed a physical examination because of a past toe injury that required surgery in April 2006, Chandler would be a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Hornets traded Chandler for Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith in February, but the Thunder rescinded the deal amid concerns about Chandler's health in the long term.

The nixed deal sent a message to the Hornets that despite their franchise-record 56 victories in 2007-08, the team's brass was willing to trade a starter to acquire expiring contracts and lower payroll.

"You never know what the future holds, so you've got to take every game like its your last," said Chandler, who said his sprained left ankle is still not completely healed, but he will start tonight in Game 1 at Denver. "That's how I've got to look at it."

Not wanting distractions while the team makes its playoff push, the Hornets have tried to quell speculation that roster changes are imminent. Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower, who will be in charge of facilitating most of the moves this summer, said progress will be determined only from how the team fares in the playoffs. Despite winning 49 games, the Hornets ended the regular season losing six of their final eight games and fell to the seventh seed in the Western Conference. But Bower said he saw encouraging signs.

"I like how they come to expect more of themselves as a group, and I like how they are able to play off each other," Bower said. "I think this group is motivated because they want to win a championship. I think they know at this time of year that in order to achieve that, they have to play at peak performance. I think that's what motivates them."

Yet rumors persist, especially on the Internet, about potential maneuvers. Ten days ago, the Dallas Mavericks reported in a blog that Mavs owner Mark Cuban might be willing to take the Hornets' two worst contracts if they included Paul in the deal. Coach Byron Scott said he cracked up after reading the report and responded by saying that hell has to freeze over before they consider trading Paul.

A few days later, another Internet report stated the Hornets would be interested in trading West if they could not draw enough interest for Chandler. West, who makes a shade under $9 million a season, is a two-time All-Star and has a more cap friendly salary to entice other teams.

This week, the New York Daily News reported that Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal thinks he is coming to New Orleans in exchange for Chandler.

"It's all about us staying professional, and hopefully we'll do things in the offseason to make us better than we are this year -- that's the goal," West said. "You just have to wait to see what the team is going to look like."

It is apparent, even with West and Paul playing at All-Star levels, the Hornets are not one of the top teams in the Western Conference, based on their playoff seeding.

"This summer, we're going have to do some tinkering and find some other pieces to the puzzle, but I love our core guys," Scott said.

"I like our group overall, but I still think we have some improvement to do. I think we can get more athletic. I still want us to get up and down the court a lot better and faster."

Paul, West, Peja Stojakovic, Rasual Butler and Chandler have been together since 2006.

To surround Paul and West with better talent, the Hornets obtained Chandler in a trade from Chicago in exchange for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith in July 2006. New Orleans signed Stojakovic in free agency that same offseason.

West was selected 18th overall in the 2003 draft. Paul was the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft. Butler, who started 74 games this season, was acquired in a trade with the Miami Heat in August 2005.

"I like playing with these guys," Chandler said. "I felt last year we had an opportunity, and we let it slip away from us. We want to get it done this time."

The past two seasons, the group has won 105 games, matching the team's best run from 1996 to '98. Also, it's the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons, the Hornets have made consecutive playoff appearances.

"All of us have one goal in mind, and that's to win the championship," Butler said. "I think the only people that believe are us (players). We don't know what's going to happen in the offseason with the business of basketball, but we are not going to let that affect us. If we do what we are supposed to do and win a championship, I don't think nobody will go anywhere."

Base on next season's projected payroll of $76 million, the Hornets would have one of the highest-paid rosters in the league. The luxury tax threshold was $71.1 million this season, but that is expected to dip between $69 million and $70 million because the NBA's revenue declined this season. If the Hornets are above the luxury tax, team owner George Shinn has pay to the league $1 for every $1 they are above it.

One way to reduce payroll is to acquire expiring contracts, which the Hornets tried to do with Smith and Wilcox from Oklahoma City.

Yet the team is still somewhat limited with its own payroll. Stojakovic is owed $29.5 million over the next two years of his contract. West has two seasons remaining for a total of $17.2 million. Chandler is owed $11.8 million next season, and he could exercise his option for the 2010-11 season to increase that to $12.7 million.

Paul's three-year extension, which includes an option for a fourth year and is valued at $68 million, begins next season. Top backup James Posey, who signed last summer as a free agent, has three years remaining on his contract and is owed $19.3 million.

Butler has one more year on his contract at $3.9 million. Backups Ryan Bowen, Sean Marks, Melvin Ely and Devin Brown all are in the final year of their deals.

"You are always connected to your teammates, and you always feel bad when someone leaves," Stojakovic said. "On the other hand, it is a business, and you can't worry about it. That's something management and the coaching staff are going to decide.